6 Changes I Made After Airlines Routinely Lost My Suitcase

For a few years, it seemed like I couldn’t check a suitcase without encountering problems, from broken wheels to lost luggage. Reuniting with my suitcase after I’d returned home from a trip was frustrating, to say the least.

Now, I’ve made a few minor adjustments to my travel habits. Learning how to be my own advocate — plus not checking a suitcase if I don’t have to — has paid dividends.

Here are 6 small changes I’ve made to my travel habits that help prevent mishandled luggage.

1. I Don’t Check Luggage if I Don’t Have To

After numerous problems with lost luggage, the simplest solution is not to check a bag if I don’t have to. Between travel-size liquids and packing light, I joined “team carry-on” — when I can, at least.

Sure, I can’t go carry-on-only with my snowboard or scuba gear, but I try to avoid checking a suitcase if possible. Rolling a carry-on bag through the airport isn’t convenient, but it’s more convenient than a suitcase that doesn’t show up at the right place or time.

2. I Watch My Suitcase After Dropping It Off

When flying to Mexico a few years ago, my wife and I handed over our suitcase at Los Angeles (LAX) and headed to security. We didn’t realize the employee had merely set our suitcase aside to help other customers. The bag never moved from that spot.

When we landed in Puerto Vallarta, my Apple AirTag showed the suitcase was still sitting at the baggage drop-off counter. There were no more flights to Puerto Vallarta that day, so we had to wait 24 hours for our luggage.

It contained flip-flops, swimsuits, and more appropriate clothes than the sweatpants we wore at a beachfront hotel on a hot day. Sure, we got reimbursed for the necessities we bought at the store while waiting, but having the items from our suitcase would have been better.

After this incident, I learned to watch my suitcase. I don’t leave the check-in area until I see my suitcase go onto the conveyor belt and disappear into the back room. Only then do I walk away.

3. I Learn How To Track My Suitcase in Advance

Most airlines have a way to track your suitcase online or in a mobile app. I use those.

I also learn how to use them in advance, letting me accompany my suitcase from drop-off to being loaded onto the plane. Before the plane leaves the gate, I ensure my suitcase is on board.

Some airlines also provide text message updates with this information, and I subscribe to those whenever possible.

4. I Tell the Flight Crew About Concerns

The most common reason my suitcase did not arrive on time is that the bag missed a connection during a short layover.

Many of those instances weren’t my fault, as the first flight was delayed — not because I’d booked an itinerary with a short connection. When I had to run to catch my next flight, the suitcase didn’t move through the underbelly of the airport fast enough to get on the second flight. That’s happened to me in Atlanta, Chicago, Frankfurt, and more.

I can’t control flight delays that turn a comfortable connection into a stressfully short time and increase the chances my luggage will misconnect. What I can control, however, is making sure airline employees know there might be a problem.

During boarding, I tell the flight crew if I have to run for a flight. I show them my luggage claim ticket and the flight I just came from, asking if they can ensure my luggage makes it onto the flight before we depart.

This isn’t a fail-safe method, as the flight attendant may be unable to hold the plane until my suitcase is placed on board. However, getting an airline employee on my side has been helpful. A United flight attendant recently convinced the pilot to wait for my suitcase when I had to sprint through Washington Dulles (IAD) after my first flight arrived late. We waited 3 minutes until my suitcase arrived — a quick wait that made a world of difference for me.

5. I Bring a Change of Clothes and Toiletries in My Carry-On

For me, the most annoying part of a delayed suitcase is not having the items I need right away. A toothbrush, toothpaste, clean underwear — those are the frustrating parts.

I still put necessities in my carry-on bag when I check a suitcase. What will I need in the next 24 hours? Anything I’ll need goes in my bag. A few small toiletries and a change of clothes will make me feel like a normal human being if my luggage doesn’t show up on time.

Even though airlines are required to provide reimbursement for items I need while waiting for my suitcase, shopping for them in a foreign country and going through the reimbursement process is cumbersome. If I can avoid it by keeping a few items in my backpack, I’d rather do that.

6. I Pay for Flights With a Travel Card

Airlines must reimburse me for items I must purchase while waiting for my suitcase. Each airline may define “necessities” differently. Still, I’ve had good luck proving I needed a winter coat in northern Canada or a swimsuit in Puerto Vallarta when those items were stuck in a missing suitcase. That’s on top of obvious items like a toothbrush or clean underwear.

However, airlines set limits on what they’ll pay while waiting for a delayed suitcase. The same applies to a suitcase that’s never reunited with its owner.

If you need to purchase items that cost more than the airline’s reimbursement maximum, having a travel credit card that covers the difference is ideal. That’s why I always pay for my flights with a card that has a baggage insurance plan, such as the Platinum Card^® from American Express or Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card.

Final Thoughts

After multiple problems with missing suitcases, I’ve adjusted my travel habits before departure and at the airport. By learning how to track my bags, advocating for myself, and ensuring employees send my luggage on its way — not just set it down and forget about it — I’ve avoided problems with lost and delayed luggage for a few years now.

I’ve also learned to avoid checking luggage whenever possible, as that can avert the problem entirely. If all else fails, at least I have some toiletries and a change of clothes in my carry-on, which can hold me over until my luggage catches up with me.

For the baggage insurance plan benefit of the Platinum Card^® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.